diff --git a/top/top.c b/top/top.c
index b725f68c..962d16a7 100644
--- a/top/top.c
+++ b/top/top.c
@@ -1330,6 +1330,9 @@ static char *ioline (const char *prompt) {
             break;
       }
       putp(fmtmk("%s%s%s", tg2(beg, Msg_row), Cap_clr_eol, buf));
+#ifdef OVERTYPE_SEE
+      putp(fmtmk("%s%c", tg2(beg - 1, Msg_row), ovt ? '^' : ' '));
+#endif
       putp(tg2(beg+pos, Msg_row));
    } while (key != kbd_ENTER);
 
diff --git a/top/top.h b/top/top.h
index 78ecdac0..b843b511 100644
--- a/top/top.h
+++ b/top/top.h
@@ -44,6 +44,7 @@
 //#define OFF_STDERROR            /* disable our stderr buffering (redirect) */
 //#define OFF_STDIOLBF            /* disable our own stdout 'IOFBF' override */
 //#define OFF_XTRAWIDE            /* disable our extra wide multi-byte logic */
+//#define OVERTYPE_SEE            /* display a visual hint for overtype mode */
 //#define PRETEND0NUMA            /* pretend that there ain't any numa nodes */
 //#define PRETEND48CPU            /* pretend we're smp with 48 ticsers (sic) */
 //#define PRETENDNOCAP            /* pretend terminal missing essential caps */